How life has changed in Runnymede

Runnymede's population increased by about 2,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 81,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Runnymede increased by 3.2%, from just over 78,000 to 80,500.

The addition of almost 2,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Runnymede was home to, on average, 7.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Runnymede

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Runnymede increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This area had a slightly lower average age than the South East and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 1,500 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 15.0% of people in Runnymede are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Runnymede by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Runnymede, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.1% to 9.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 29.6%, while the percentage of households in Runnymede which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37.4% to 35.8%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Runnymede

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Runnymede, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.3 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 25.8% of respondents in Runnymede said they had no religion, up from 15.6% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 68.3% of respondents in Runnymede said they were Christian, down from 81.3% in 2001. About 2.1% said they were Muslim, up from 1.1% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Runnymede increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Runnymede by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Runnymede

The percentage of Runnymede residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage of Runnymede residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 90.8% in 2001 to 90.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Runnymede that rented privately increased from 9.9% to 15.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.9%) households lived in social housing, compared with 11.8% in 2001. The percentage of Runnymede households that owned their home decreased from 75.4% to 69.5%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Runnymede increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Runnymede, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Runnymede

In 2011, 6.9% of Runnymede residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 2.7% in 2001. The 4.3 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 89.0% of people in Runnymede said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 95.0% in 2001. About 2.1% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.2% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.5% to 1.1%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Runnymede increased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Runnymede by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Runnymede residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.3% to 3.7% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.7% in 2001. The percentage of Runnymede residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.1% to 10.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Runnymede decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Runnymede, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Runnymede working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.8% to 12.1% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Runnymede decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Runnymede, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Runnymede

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Runnymede, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Runnymede, the proportion of single people increased from 33.1% in 2001 to 35.5% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

The proportion of married people in Runnymede fell from 49.3% to 47.2%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.7% to 10.7%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Runnymede residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.4%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 54.4% in 2001. The percentage of Runnymede residents that were self-employed increased from 9.2% to 10.7%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Runnymede increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Runnymede, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Runnymede residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.7%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Runnymede remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Runnymede by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Runnymede with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.5% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.7%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Runnymede without children decreased from 63.6% to 63.1%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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